Apparatus for temporarily locking a spindle,particularly in a hand towel dispenser

ABSTRACT

THERE IS DISCLOSED AN ARRANGEMENT FOR TEMPORAILY LOCKING A SPINDLE, PARTICULARY IN HAND TOWEL DISPENSER, AFTER TWO OR MORE COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DETERMINED BY A SUCTION CUP HELD BY SUCTION AGAINST A COUNTER ELEMENT. THE SUCTION CUP IS CARRIED ON A MOVABLE MEMBER AND IT COOPERATES WITH THE COUNTER ELEMENT WHEN THE MOVABLE MEMBER IS IN AN END POSITION IN WHICH IT STOPS THE SPINDLE. DURING A FIRST REVOLUTION OF THE SPINDLE A CAM PIECE CONNECTED TO THE SPINDLE ENGAGES A FIRST ABUTMENT ON SAID MEMBER FOR MOVING THE LATTER FROM A STARTING POSITION INTO AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION IN WHICH IT IS RETATINED BY A PAWL MECHANISM. DURING AT LEAST ONE SUCEEDING REVOLUTION OF THE SPINDLE SAID CAM PIECE ENGAGES AT LEAST ONE FURTHER ABUTMENT ON SAID MEMBER FOR MOVING IT INTO FURTHER INTERMEDIATE POSITIONS AND FINALLY INTO ITS END POSITION. LIMITING MEANS MAY BE PROVIDED FOE SELECTIVELY PREVENTING COMPLETE RESTORATION OF SAID MEMBER TO ITS STARTING POSITION SO THAT THE SPINDLE IS THEN LOCKED AFTER FEWER THAN A MIXIMUM NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS.

Uct W71 H. o. RASMUSSEN APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY LOCKING A SPINDLE,PARTICULARLY IN A HAND TOWEL DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 10,1970 FIG. 7

FIG. 2

Oct. 19, 1971 H. O. RASMUSSEN APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY LOCKING ASPINDLE, PARTICULARLY IN A HAND TOWEL DISPENSER Filed June 10, 1970 2Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Claims priority, applicationSwitzerland, June 24, 1969,

9,632/69 Int. Cl. Gg 5/00 U.S. Cl. 74-565 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE There is disclosed an arrangement for temporarily locking aspindle, particularly in a hand towel dispenser, after two or morecomplete revolutions for a period of time determined by a suction cupheld by suction against a counter element. The suction cup is carried ona movable member and it cooperates with the counter element when themovable member is in an end position in which it stops the spindle.During a first revolution of the spindle a cam piece connected to thespindle engages a first abutment on said member for moving the latterfrom a starting position into an intermediate position in which it isretained by a pawl mechanism. During at least one succeeding revolutionofthe spindle said cam piece engages at least one further abutment onsaid member for moving it into further intermediate positions andfinally into its end position. Limiting means may be provided forselectively preventing complete restoration of said member to itsstarting position so that the spindle is then locked after fewer than amaximum number of replutions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known and commonplace to provide in ahand towel dispenser an arrangement by means of which a roller, overwhich the dispensed hand towel runs, can be temporarily locked after apredetermined length of hand towel has been issued.

Known arrangements for this purpose have a suction cup carried by amember which is movable by a cam piece connected to the roller or itsspindle into an end position to press the suction cup against a counterelement, the member holding the spindle when in its end position. Aftera predetermined lapse of time the suction cup detaches from the counterelement and the movable member returns to a bottom position under theaction of weight and/ or springs, in which the roller is released again.The aforesaid cam piece can be arranged directly on the spindle of theroller; the roller will then be temporarily stopped after each singlerotation thereof. If it is desired to dispense at any one time a lengthof hand towel which is more than is represented by one rotation of theroller, the cam piece may be arranged on a special spindle which isconnected to the roller through appropriate gearing. This howeverinvolves a complication of the apparatus.

The object of this invention is to obtain a simple inexpensivearrangement by means of which a spindle can be temporarily locked afterevery two or more complete rotations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an arrangement for thetemporary locking of a spindle, particularly in a hand towel dispenser,after two or more complete rotations for a period of time determined bya suction cup held by suction against a counter element, the suction cupbeing carried by a member which is movable into an end position againstspring and/or gravity action by a cam piece Patented Oct. 19, 1971connected to the spindle, to urge the suction cup against the counterelement, the member located in the end position holding the spindle.According to the invention this arrangement is characterised by the factthat the movable member has at least two abutments which are arrangedone behind another with respect to the direction of movement of themember in such a way that, starting from a bottom position of themember, the said cam piece engages a first one of the said abutmentsduring a first rotation of the spindle to bring the member into anintermediate position, and during a succeeding rotation of the spindleengages a last one of the said abutments to bring the member into theend position and thus to press to suction cup against the counterelement; and that a pawl cooperating with a stop means is provided forretaining the member in the intermediate position, this pawl moving intothe effective range of said stop means concomitantly with the movementof the member into its intermediate position and being moved out of thiseffective range when the member is moved into its end position.

With this arrangement the possibility is also offered of limiting theadjustability of said member, if desired, with the assistance of areleasable or adjustable limiting means, so that the member may notcompletely return to the starting position after the suction cup hasbeen released but only to the intermediate position (or one of theintermediate positions) so that it correspondingly sooner,

reaches the end position again.

Advantageously the aforesaid pawl may be pivotally mounted on theadjustable member and cooperate with a fixed stop. The pawl may bedisposed in the path of travel of a part, connected to the spindle,which turns the pawl into the effective range of the fixed stop duringthe first rotation of the spindle. Preferably, to reduce the number ofparts required, the pawl may simultaneously form the aforesaid firstabutment on the adjustable member, and the cam piece can at the sametime constitute the aforesaid part which turns with the spindle tooperate the pawl.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Two embodiments of the arrangementaccording to the invention are described below, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a section on the line II-II of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the parts inchanged positions,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation of a second embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 6 is another view of the second embodiment, taken from therighthand side of FIG. 5, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the partsin different positions.

The arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be used for thetemporary locking of a spindle 1 after each two rotations. It comprisesa guide plate .2' and a suction cup 3 which are stationary in relationto the axis of the spindle. This spindle 1 may for example be the shaftof the roller in a hand towel dispenser over which the drawn off towelruns. In this event the spindle would be rotatably mounted in a sideplate of the hand towel dispenser and the guide plate and therelatively-fixed suction cup 3 would be secured to this side plate.

Guide plate 2 has two pins 4 projecting into a slot in a member 5 whichis thus guided for vertical movement on the guide plate 2. Member 5 isbiassed downwards by gravity and/ or spring means (not shown) into itsstarting or bottom position illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the upperpin 4 bears against the upper end of the slot in the member 5.

Member 5 carries a pawl 7 which is pivotable on a pin 6. The lower edgeof pawl 7 constitutes a first abutment for a cam piece 8 secured tospindle 1. A second abutment 9 for cam piece 8 is provided on member 5below pawl 7, that is to say behind the pawl in relation to thedirection of movement of this member.

This arrangement operates as follows: All parts being in the startingposition seen in FIG. 1, spindle 1 is turned in the clockwise direction.During the first rotation of spindle 1 the cam piece 8 strikes the pawl7 as a result of which the member 5 is raised against the action ofgravity and/or the spring action imposed thereon. At the same time thepawl 7 is pivoted to some extent to the righthand side, again by campiece 8, until its righthand edge abuts against a guide edge 10 on plate2 and its lower edge is disposed above a stop 11 provided on this plate.Cam piece 8, which is flush with the member 5, passes away over abutment11, but member 5 is held in a raised intermediate position by theapplication of pawl 7 against the stop 11. This position of the parts,reached after one rotation of spindle 1, is illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the course of a second rotation of spindle 1 cam piece 8 contacts thesecond abutment 9 on member 5 and lifts the latter into the end positionthereof depicted in FIG. 4. As a result of this a suction cup 12 securedto member :5 is pressed against the fixed complementary suction cup 3.At the same time the pawl 7 is turned back by the inclined guide surface10 into its vertical position (assuming that gravity is not sufficientto bring about this return pivoting movement). When spindle 1 hascompleted its second rotation, cam piece 8, as shown in FIG. 4, contactsan abutment surface 13 on member 5, lying in the path of the cam piecewhen member 5 has assumed its end position. This surface 13 prohibitsfurther rotation of the spindle 1.

This spindle remains locked against rotary movement until the cups 3 and12, held together by suction, are released again from one another. Whenthis occurs member 5 drops downwards under gravity action (and, whereused, with spring assistance). Since the pawl 7 as it pivots back doesnot make contact with stop 11, member 5 returns to the starting orbottom position illustrated in FIG. 1. The spindle 1 is thus free againand the cycle of operations can begin afresh.

The predetermined lapse of time for which the suction cups 3 and 12remain pressed together, and spindle 1 remains locked can, if required,be set by an adjustable air-inlet valve (not shown) in a manner whichper se is known.

With the arrangement which has been described the spindle 1 istemporarily locked after each two complete rotations. If desired areleasable or adjustable limiting element can be provided which, in itsefi ective position,

holds the member 5 in the intermediate position of FIG. I

3, preventing it from reaching the bottom position shown in FIG. 1.Member 5 will then only move between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and4 and the spindle 1 be temporarily locked after each rotation thereof.Spindle 1 could thus be optionally set for single-rotation locking ortwo-rotation locking by bringing the limiting element into and out ofeffective position. An additional pin 4a, as shown in broken lines inFIG. 3, is admirably suited for example as a limiting element of thiskind, this being detachably fastened in the guide plate 2 and alsoprojecting into the slot in member 5.

It will be apparent that, based on the construction described above, anarrangement can also be set up which will enable the spindle to betemporarily locked after three or more complete rotations. For thispurpose it is only necessary to cater for raising of the adjustablememher in three or more steps from the bottom position to its endposition. For this purpose three or more abutments for cam piece 8 wouldbe arranged in succession on the adjustable member 5 and means providedfor retaining this member in its various intermediate positions. Theselatter means could moreover be such that the upper abutments are in theform of pawls, similar to pawl 7, which cooperate with the fixed guideplate abutment 11. Also in a modification of this character limitingelements could, if desired, be provided to allow for the spindle to betemporarily locked optionally after a few or after a maximum number ofrotations.

The embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention illustratedin .FIGS. 5 to 8 is in principle similar as regards construction andoperation to the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, with theexception that a pivotable member 25 is used instead of theverticallydisplaceable member 5. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 to 8is used for the temporary locking of a spindle 21 after each tworotations. The spindle 21 may for example be that of a roller in a paperhand towel dispenser and be rotatably mounted in a side plate 22 (FIG.6) of such a dispenser. Secured to this plate 22, that is to say fixedin relation to the axis of spindle 21, are a suction cup 23, a pivot pin24 and a stop pin 31 (FIGS. 5, 7, 8).

Pivotally disposed on pin 24 is a member 25. This member is biassed toturn, by the action of a spring (not shown) applied against a projection25a of member 25 to pull it downwards, to its starting or bottomposition which is shown in FIG. 5 and in which an abutment part 29thereof is applied against spindle 21.

Pivoted on a pin 26 on member 25 is a pawl 27 in the form of a two-armedlever. The righthand arm of the pawl lever 27 is substantially heavierthan the lefthand arm so that the pawl is gravity-biassed in theclockwise direction until its right arm is applied against the abutmentpart 29 of member 25 (FIGS. 5 and 8). The righthand arm of pawl 27constitutes a first abutment for a cam piece 28 mounted on spindle 21,and the abutment part 29 on member 25 constitutes a second abutment forthis cam piece 28, the second abutment 29 being arranged after the firstabutment 27, as regarded in the direction of travel of member 25 (in thecounterclockwise direction from the starting position shown in FIG. 5).

The arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 operates as follows: Withall parts in the starting position shown in FIG. 5, spindle 21 is turnedin the clockwise direction. Cam piece 28 strikes the righthand arm ofpawl lever 27 in the course of the first rotation of spindle 21. As aresult the pawl lever is first turned to a small amount in thecounterclockwise direction until its lefthand arm bears against stop pin31. The pawl lever 27 will then be lifted along with member 25, that isto say this latter will be pivoted around pivot pin 24 in thecounterclockwise direction against its spring bias. Eventually the fixedstop pin 31 will be accommodated in a recess 27a in the end of thelefthand arm of pawl lever 27. This will prevent the pawl lever 27 andthe member 25 dropping back when cam piece 28 has left the righthand endof the pawl lever; thus member 25 will be held in the intermediateposition illustrated in FIG. 7 after one complete rotation of spindle21.

In the course of the second rotation of spindle 21, cam piece 28contacts the second abutment 29 on member 25 and raises the latterfurther until it reaches its end position illustrated in FIG. 8. Thiscauses a suction cut 32, secured to member 25, to be pressed against thefixed suction cup 23. At the same time pawl 27 will rock back into itsstarting position under the action of gravity as soon as the lefthandarm thereof has left stop pin 31. Then, also in the course of the secondrotation, cam piece 28 contacts an abutment part 33 on member 25 asshown in FIG. 8. As can there be seen, the abutment part 33 lies in thepath of travel of cam piece 28, when the member 25 is in its endposition. Thus abutment part 33 prohibits further rotation of spindle21.

This spindle 21 remains locked until the cups 23 and 32, which are heldtogether by suction are released from one another. Member 25 then turnsunder its spring bias into the bottom position illustrated in FIG. 4,the lefthand arm of pawl 27 running past abutment pin 31. Spindle 21 isthus free again and a fresh cycle can begin.

The arrangement illustrated in FIGS. to 8 can also be so set, ifdesired, that the spindle 21 will be held after each single rotation,instead of each two. For this pur pose, the member 25 can be retained inits intermediate position shown in FIG. 7 by means of an adjustablelever element in the form of a pivotal pawl member 2411 (which has beenomitted in FIG. 6 so as not to confuse the drawing), whereby member 25is prevented from returning into its bottom position shown in FIG. 5 andcan only move from the intermediate position into the end position andback. In the position thereof illustrated in full lines in FIG. 7 thepawl member 24a does not affect the remaining parts of the arrangement.If, however, this pawl member 24a is turned into the position thereofwhich has been indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 7, it then holds upmember 25, as it falls back', in the intermediate position illustrated.Thus by moving the pawl element 24a into effective position, or byretracting it from this position, the spindle 21 can be lockedselectively after each rotation or after each two rotations.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for temporarily locking a spindle, particularly in a handtowel dispenser, after an integral number of complete revolutions for apredetermined period of time, said integral number being greater thanone, comprising:

a movable member;

a suction cup carried on said member;

a cam piece connected to said spindle for moving said member from astarting position into an end position against the action of a biassingforce, said member being adapted in said end position to stop saidspindle;

a counter element cooperating with said suction cup in the end positionof said member for holding the suction cup and member by suction duringsaid predetermined period of time;

at least two abutments mounted on said member one behind another withrespect to the direction of movement of the member, a first one of saidabutments being arranged to engage said cam piece during a firstrevolution of said spindle, when said member is in said startingposition, for moving the member into an intermediate position, and alast one of said abutments being arranged to engage said cam pieceduring a succeeding revolution of said spindle for moving the memberinto said end position to press said suction cup against said counterelement; and

a pawl cooperating with a stop means for retaining said member in saidintermediate position, said pawl being movable into the effective rangeof said stop means concomitantly with the movement of said member intoits intermediate position, and being movable out of this effective rangeconcomitantly with the movement of the member into its end position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pawl is pivotallymounted on said member and wherein said stop means is a stationary stop.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pawl is located in thepath of travel of said cam piece connected to said spindle, said campiece being arranged to turn the pawl into the efiective area of thecooperating stationary stop during said first revolution of saidspindle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pawl also forms saidfirst abutment on said member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a limiting meanswhich is movable from an ineffective position into an effective positionfor preventing restoration of said member from said intermediateposition to said starting postion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,767 11/1938 Price et al226l3l X 2,206,320 7/1940 Grunwald 226-l3l X MILTON KAUFMAN, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 226l31

